Tag: Snow Trillium


Snow and Red Trillium

19
May

Snow Trillium


Last June I wrote a piece entitled “Chasing Rarities” and in that piece I state that Snow Trillium was know from only one location in Michigan. Later in the year I was contacted by Bill S. and informed that there were more populations. So, on April 21 Bill and his family graciously took me to and told me about more locations. The above photo was taken on the 21st at another location along the Grand River. While Trillium nivale is still the 2nd rarest Trillium in Michigan, I am pleased to learn that there are other thriving populations. Thank you, Bill and family, for your time and for sharing this information with me as I like to be as accurate as possible. I have also update the previous blog post to reflect this.

Snow Trillium in snow


Also, we have known that Trillium nivale blooms in early April each year. With 2018 being one of the coldest springs on record, I wanted to know if they would still bloom on time. While we usually say they bloom on April 4, I was not able to visit them until the 8th or four days later. Yes, there were several plants in bloom. Then on the 17th I was able to stop after being near Lansing and see them actually still blooming through the snow and ice. Again for those willing to get out early there are wildflowers to find and enjoy while most people think spring doesn’t come until May.

Red Trillium


While weather can affect when some plants bloom, many native species seem to bloom by the calendar rather than the weather. Yes, in the north with snow and ice lasting longer this year many may be a bit behind but I expect that they will catch up sooner than we think. A case in point is the Red Trillium or Trillium erectum. As I traveled north to near Traverse City on the May 15, to photograph this Trillium, both red and white were blooming nicely.
Depending on where you live, south to north will determine what you see blooming, but there is still time to get out and enjoy Michigan’s many spring wildflowers.

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Two True Harbingers of Spring

8
April

As the weather finally shows promise of warming this spring, there are early spring ephemerals beginning to appear in West Michigan woods.

Snow Trillium

Snow Trillium

First a threatened species of Trillium, Trillium nivale or Snow Trillium blooms in early April each year. This very small Trillium was thought to be extirpated or extinct from Michigan for 35 years until the late Fred Case rediscovered it along a river bank. In the early 1900’s this plant was well know in the Grand Rapids area at locations along the Grand River, but today is nonexistent in these locations. Nivale means “of the snows”, which is appropriate for this small flower as it will bloom in the snow and subfreezing temperatures without much damage to the plant.  Snow Trillium looks like a miniature version of the Great White Trillium we are so familiar with in this region. As you can see from the photo below, a dime next to the plant shows that it is only a fraction of the size of the larger Trillium; making easy to overlook while in the woods. The leaves also have a more fleshly appearance to them and narrower petals. I stopped and checked on them this past Saturday and they are blooming nicely. As I only get to the one location I know of about once every 4 or 5 years it is good to see the population increasing and clumps becoming larger.

Snow Trillium

Snow Trillium

Another early flower that blooms in Southern Michigan from March or April to May in some years is the Harbinger-of-Spring or Erigenia bulbosa. It is found in rich, moist deciduous woods on hillsides and flat ground. This member of the parsley family is another small and inconspicuous species which can be easily over looked amongst the leaves. The leaves of Harbinger do resemble those of parsley as they mature. The white petals contrast with the dark anthers leading to another common name of “Pepper-and-Salt”. This flower can be found in the Hudsonville Nature Center and at Hagar Hardwoods Park in Jenison.

Harbinger-of-Spring

Harbinger-of-Spring

It is time to get out and begin enjoying the early and spring flowers here in Michigan. Over the next few weeks the number of species and abundance of blooms will continue to increase, peaking around Mother’s Day.

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